Henry VIII. 30. December, 31st year of his reign, leased this monastery and its estates in Devon and Somerset, to Thomas de Gorlemont, of London, gentleman, for a term of twenty-one years, for the annual sum of £23. 14. 2.

Four years after, for what reason I know not, the King granted the scite of the nunnery to John St. Leger, esq.

There was a chapel dedicated to All Saints, infra Monasterium de Legh; and another dedicated to the Holy Trinity, at Westleigh, in Burlescombe parish.-Vide 1. Regist. Brantyngham, fo. 220. ad. ann. 1391.

Another chapel of St. Thomas, infra Monasterium de Legh, is mentioned Ib fo. 195. ad. ann. 1388. There was an "honesta capella Sci Theobaldi Monasterio de Legh contigua".-1b. fo. 50. ad. ann. 1373..

CORNWORTHY PRIORY.

I AM not able to satisfy myself concerning the founder of this priory. The foundation has been assigned to the Edgcumbe family; but I think the arguments are in favor of the Zouches.

In the registers, the priory is generally styled Augustine in one or two instances, however, it is said to be Benedictine; but this is probably a mistake of the Bishop's Secretary. The community was small. Tanner says, it was founded for seven Religious women; but I observe that only five Nuns had a voice at the election of Honora Vyvyan, 28. May, 1461. On account of the poverty of the convent, it was generally exempted from paying the King's tenth. The Religious presented to the churches of Cornworthy, Clawton and Merland.

She resigned her office early in

7. Thomasina Dynham occurs Prioress

6. Honora Vyvyan succeeded her on 28, May that year.

1461

1501

She resigned late in

1519

8. Avisia Dynham, elected as her successor on 30. of the ensuing month of Jannary.

Bishop Veysey addressed a mandate to this Prioress, 2. Reg. fo. 7.

At the Dissolution, the priory was valued at £63. 3. per annum.

In the second year of Elizabeth, the priory was granted to Edward Harris and John Williams. Bishop Veysey's Mandate, dated from Chudleigh, 19. Jan. 1520-1.

John by God's permission Bishop of Excet, to owre wel belovyd Systers in Criste, the Priores and covent of Corneworthy, salutyng in o Lord Jhu. Forasmych we enterly desyre to purge the slaunder that hath ensued yn yo Howse by trasgression of Religion, We have sende youe certyn o ordinas accordinge to the Lawys of Holy Church yn Engleshe, the rather by you to be understond and kept as here after folowynge shall evydently apere. Ffurst we commaunde youe Prioress in vertu of Obedience to see Divine Serves in due tyme, place and forme by the hoole covent, except age, sykenes or other lawfull evydent cawse lett, be devoutly withowte vayne. corcacon celebrate accordynge to yo nombre, as yn other devoute places of yor religion it is observed and kepte. Fforthermore nyghtly ye Priores with all the Covent to rest in one Dorter, all severall chambers and backedores utterly excluded. Also in the Frat' togeders take y repast attendyng to yor contemplative lectour there to be redde. Also that ye use no pompos appareil; but such as ys used in the sadde Howses of yr Religion. Also we inhibette youe to receve Sugeners withowte or speciall licence, commaundynge youe Priores in vertue of obedience to remove from yor house withyn a moneth after the recepcon hereoff all the servauntes nott necessary for the place, and also Bryton and his wyffe for consideracons reasonable which we shall disclose unto youe hereaft. Alway ye and the covent havynge in yor remembrance the thre substancialls of yor Religion which ye have professed. Ffyrst obedience, forsakynge yr awnwe ylle. Secunde, chastite, for the violacon whereoff withoute great repentance and bye m'cy of God, is sorrow ppetuall. The thyrde, abdicacon of Propete, forsakynge the worldle solici

tude. Ffro the bett conservacon whereoff; and that ye Priores may the rather give yselffe to contemplacon and religious conversacon, We utterly inhibet youe to intermeddle yn yor awne persone with any uttwarde husbandre, wandrynge yn the fylds and other prophane places irreligiously oute of the Priorie and that all such exteriour besynes be done by some discreet virtuouse man that can and woll diligely and polytyckly do the same. Thes premisses with all other rulis and observaunces of yor Religion accordyng to ye nombre, we commaunde youe Priores under the payne of the lawe to be effectually kepte opynly published, redde and declared that ye and yor Systers too herynge them, may observe the same to the confusyon of a goostly enymye the Devyll, salvacon of ye sawles, honor of Religion and owre excuse before God. God encrease youe with hys vertue and hys grace.

Wryten the place, day of the month, and yere above sayd.

MODBURY PRIORY.

"THERE was a house of Monks Aliens of the "French Order at Modbyri. The scite of their "mansion is yet seene on the north side of the "chirche. The founder was there scant knowen. "I take it that Ruan or Oxton were founders of it. "This priory, with the personage of Modbyri impro"priate was given yn King Edward IV. tyme to "Eyeton college."-So far Leland in his Itin. vol. 3. p. 48.

This account is very imperfect. It is certain, from the registers of this See, that the honor of the foundation is to be ascribed to the Chambernoun family, called in Latin De Campo Arnulphi; and that the right of patronage continued in that family* until the dispersion of the community. It further appears, from the registers, that the establishment consisted of two Monks and a Prior; and that it depended on the great Benedictine House,† Sanctæ Mariæ de Sancto Petro super Dynam in the diocese of Seez, in Normandy, the Abbots of which exclusively nominated the Priors of Modbury.

This ancient family resided formerly at Modbury. The ancient house and domain of Dartington, where the family has now fixed its residence, was originally the property of the Martyns. I find that the Martyns presented to St. Mary's church, at Dartington, in 1261, in 1318, and in 1349that afterwards it passed into the Cornewayll family-then into the Dukes of Exeter that Margaret, Countess of Richmond and Derby, and mother of King Henry VII. presented in 1499-that King Henry VIII. presented in July 1511, and that Henry Courtenay, Knight of the Garter, Baron of Oakhampton and Plympton, Earl of Devon, and Marquess of Exeter, presented in the month of July, A. D. 1521.

Dugdale seems to have been unacquainted with the existence of this abbey.